Stories from Thursday, December 16, 2004

By Ben Holman Nevada Daily Mail Right at the top of the priority list for the Vernon County Commission is working out the particulars of naming each and every road in the county and installing signs at every intersection. Throughout the first part of December, the commissioners have been busy exploring options for historically significant names, sign making machines, and laborers to bring the project to completion...

By Ralph Pokorny Nevada Daily Mail The Nevada City Council held a special meeting Wednesday to hold a closed session with a representative from the Missouri State Auditor office. The meeting is a regular part of a state audit to give the council an opportunity to respond to the results of the draft audit. ...

By David A. Lieb Associated Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov.-elect Matt Blunt questioned the legitimacy of a state contract for a high-tech homeland security Web site on Wednesday after revelations that Missouri's former homeland security chief had accepted a job with the contractor...

Nevada Daily Mail Four candidates have filed for the three seats up for grabs in the spring Nevada R5 Board of Education election. Three incumbents, Jan Benbrook, Larry Forkner and Steve Cubbage along with Sam Delaney, wife of city council candidate Larry Delaney, have put themselves on the ballot...

One man's trash is another man's treasure. By Steve Moyer Nevada Daily Mail Want to know what to do with that old set of pots and pans? Don't want to throw them away but they're still taking up space in your garage after the yard sale where you hoped to get rid of them? The answer may be as close as your computer. If you are hooked up to the Internet you can join a growing number of people who give away unwanted items. It's not recycling, it's freecycling...

Residents all over town are getting into the Christmas spirit with yard displays of every sort. Options for outdoor decorations go far beyond a string of lights along the eaves. Above, Santa and his reindeer decorate the yard of Diane Gicante, 1014 N. Main, along with Frosty the Snowman, Christmas carolers and candy canes. Icicle lights line the porch rail and colored lights line the sidewalk and front of the yard...

Zach Erwin and Amanda Jacks, Nevada, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Kallie Ann Erwin. Kallie was born at 10:21 p.m., on Dec. 5, 2004, at Nevada Regional Medical Center. She weighed 4 pounds, 7 ounces, and measured 19.5 inches. Paternal grandparents are Bill and Janet Erwin, Nevada. ...

Erma Irwin, Springfield, formerly of Liberal, Mo., died Thursday, Dec. 16, 2004, in Springfield. Family information and funeral arrangements will be announced later by Ferry Funeral Home.

Lillian E. Hickman, 88, West Linn, Ore., formerly of Sheldon, died Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2004, in West Linn, Ore. Family information and funeral arrangements will be announced later by Ferry Funeral Home.

David S. Reif is a partisan of the South who, one suspects, speaks over the heads of those likely to disagree with him, while making his natural sympathizers uneasy. Twice he's been the featured speaker at regional events, first at the Gov. Claiborne Jackson birthday anniversary dinner, held in Nevada a couple of years ago, then last November at the dedication of the Missouri Brigades Monument near Osceola...

100 years ago: In the railway world: Work on Joplin end to begin in April The final survey of the route of the Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf railway is practically completed. Construction on the Joplin end of the road is to begin in April. Contracts have been let for building the entire portion of the road south of Muskogee, I.T., to Kenefick & Co. of Kansas City. Fifty miles of grade has been finished and is ready for the steel...

Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- All he said was, ''Jordan Black, Dallas Christian High School,'' but now Notre Dame fans seem furious at their former offensive lineman. On the one hand, Kansas City's second-year tackle admits he's miffed at his alma mater over the firing of coach Tyrone Willingham...

Nevada Daily Mail Ten different Nevada Tigers junior varsity wrestlers placed in the top three of their weight class at the Harrisonville JV Tournament on Saturday. Matt Kennedy at 135 pounds and Steph Krohn at 275 pounds each won their class. Finishing second from Nevada were Tommy Hagerman (103), Josh Palmer (130), Jeremy Smith (145), Mike Reppert (171) and Ken Stewart (189)...

Nevada Daily Mail The Nevada Youth Wrestling Club had their first tournament on Saturday, with 19 local wrestlers competing. Of the medal winners, 10 were from Nevada. In the 6 and under age class, Caleb Shanks and Jacob Johnson each had third-place finishes, while Dylan Hyder got fourth...

Nevada Daily Mail The Nevada Lady Tigers junior varsity was able to beat Fort Scott in Kansas Tuesday, using a balanced attack for a 38-36 win. Lindsay Rice led the JV with 10 points, but seven other Lady Tigers scored as they overcame an 18-point performance by Fort Scott's Afton Gray...

Nevada Daily Mail The Sheldon boys ended a three-year losing streak with a convincing 65-48 win over Hermitage Tuesday. Andrew Leavell scored 26 points, as he joined with Derrick Turner (17 points) and Cody Claflin (16 points) to lead the Panthers to the win...

Nevada Daily Mail The Bronaugh Wildcats could not hold on to a seven-point lead with 2:00 left in the game, as they lost their first game this season Tuesday, 55-53 to Jasper. Bronaugh had four players in double-figures, but could not pull out the win. Alex Gordon had 15 points, Will Daniels had 13, Tyler Judd had 11 and Mitch Topping had 10...

Nevada Daily Mail The Hume girls improved to 5-1 with a 63-60 home win over Rich Hill Tuesday. Kayla Orear scored 28 points and Cindy Murdock added 10 as the Lady Hornets held off a late charge from the visitors. Hume also won the boys game, getting three players in double-figures in a 51-44 victory...

Associated Press NEW YORK -- All-Star shortstop Edgar Renteria has agreed in principle to a $40 million, four-year contract with the Boston Red Sox, who beat his St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series when he grounded to the pitcher for the final out...

By Joe Warren Nevada Daily Mail The Nevada Tigers will make it their second game in three days when they travel to Clinton today, and it will be the first of two games on consecutive days. The Tigers will face Clinton tonight then return to Nevada for tomorrow's home opener against Harrisonville...